First off, Clint Dempsey did not return to practice Friday with the Sounders. He worked out inside again and is expected to train Saturday. Coach Sigi Schmid said the star forward is feel better and improving what he can do.

Asked if he expects Dempsey to be available against New York, Schmid said, “I think there’s still a possibility of him being in the 18 at this stage. Starting? Probably not so, but we have to see how he is.”

In some other news, defender Leo Gonzalez is unlikely to play against the Red Bulls. He hasn’t practiced this week due to a groin injury.

The update from Schmid: “Right now we’re being careful with him this week, and he’s like in Dempsey’s situation, he’s making improvements, so we’ll see if he’s going to be in the 18 or not for this weekend. But we think it might be a situation where we might want to try and rest him for a week.”

New York has quite a few injuries and will be without a couple other stars, as well. Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave reportedly were not set to travel to Seattle for the game due to injury concerns regarding the CenturyLink Field turf.